inflate
verb
in·flate in-ˈflāt 
inflated; inflating
transitive verb
1
: to swell or distend with air or gas
2
: to puff up : elate
inflate one's ego
3
: to expand or increase abnormally or imprudently
intransitive verb
: to become inflated
inflator noun
or inflater
in-ˈflā-tər
Example Sentences
We used a pump to inflate the raft. Economists warn that rapid economic growth could inflate prices. Increased competition has inflated salaries among professional athletes. Rapid economic growth may cause prices to inflate.
Recent Examples on the Web They might one day be used to make tents that can unfold and inflate on their own when temperature or other ambient conditions are changed. 
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 30 Aug. 2022 The smoothest way to do that is to inflate the price of real estate and the stock market. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2022 But those endorsements were a ruse by EthereumMax's creators to inflate the price of the token, the complaint states. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2022 That structure may encourage applicants to use certain language to inflate the worth of their research. Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 1 Sep. 2022 The loans began to inflate because of predatory lending practices and industry leaders’ driving up of the medallion prices. Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 31 Aug. 2022 It's highly rated on Amazon for its durability and being easy to inflate. Alyssa Gautieri, Good Housekeeping, 31 Aug. 2022 Many older borrowers, including those who also took out smaller sums initially, have had years of accruing interest to inflate their outstanding balance to absurd levels. Julian Epp, The New Republic, 30 Aug. 2022 Blowers then inflate an air bladder to help seal the gap—this can only be done once the roof has stopped moving. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2022 See More
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 30 Aug. 2022 The smoothest way to do that is to inflate the price of real estate and the stock market. Clem Chambers, Forbes, 25 Jan. 2022 But those endorsements were a ruse by EthereumMax's creators to inflate the price of the token, the complaint states. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2022 That structure may encourage applicants to use certain language to inflate the worth of their research. Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 1 Sep. 2022 The loans began to inflate because of predatory lending practices and industry leaders’ driving up of the medallion prices. Sakshi Venkatraman, NBC News, 31 Aug. 2022 It's highly rated on Amazon for its durability and being easy to inflate. Alyssa Gautieri, Good Housekeeping, 31 Aug. 2022 Many older borrowers, including those who also took out smaller sums initially, have had years of accruing interest to inflate their outstanding balance to absurd levels. Julian Epp, The New Republic, 30 Aug. 2022 Blowers then inflate an air bladder to help seal the gap—this can only be done once the roof has stopped moving. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 29 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Latin inflatus, past participle of inflare, from in- + flare to blow — more at blow
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
inflate
verb
in·flate in-ˈflāt
inflated; inflating
1
: to swell or fill with air or gas
inflate a balloon
2
: to cause to increase beyond proper limits
Prices have been inflated.
Medical Definition
inflate
verb
in·flate in-ˈflāt
inflated; inflating
transitive verb
: to swell or distend with air or gas
inflate the lungs
intransitive verb
: to become inflated
inflating
verb
1
as in increasing
to make greater in size, amount, or number Check that you have inflated your tires to the recommended pressure. Some sellers were inflating their prices by as much as 500 per cent. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- increasing
- raising
- raising
- expanding
- distending
- augmenting
- lifting
- dilating
- enlarging
- amplifying
- aggrandizing
- hyping
- accelerating
- stoking
- escalating
- multiplying
- aerating
- upping
- boosting
- compounding
- swelling
- upping
- extending
- skyrocketing
- spiking
- prolonging
- jumping
- stretching
- elongating
- lengthening
- booming
- heightening
- hiking
- supersizing
- enhancing
- protracting
- intensifying
- reinforcing
- supplementing
- blowing up
- developing
- pumping up
- magnifying
- complementing
- maximizing
- building up
- accumulating
- strengthening
- adding (to)
- drawing out
- amassing
- collecting
- reenforcing
- jacking (up)
- racheting (up)
- bumping (up)
- ratcheting (up)
- parlaying
- fleshing (out)
- following up
- beefing (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- compressing
- reducing
- contracting
- decreasing
- condensing
- constricting
- diminishing
- lowering
- lessening
- dwindling
- downsizing
- curtailing
- subtracting (from)
- shortening
- abbreviating
- abating
- abridging
- minifying
- retrenching
- de-escalating
- cutting back
2
as in accelerating
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number Airbags are designed to inflate automatically on impact. Synonyms & Similar Words
- accelerating
- expanding
- ballooning
- rising
- distending
- increasing
- jumping
- swelling
- accumulating
- mounting
- climbing
- enlarging
- escalating
- proliferating
- spreading
- snowballing
- multiplying
- mushrooming
- booming
- surging
- bulking
- intensifying
- skyrocketing
- rocketing
- burgeoning
- appreciating
- bourgeoning
- heightening
- rolling up
- waxing
- gaining
- blowing up
- puffing (up)
- building up
- peaking
- redoubling
- cresting
- crescendoing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- decreasing
- diminishing
- contracting
- lessening
- dwindling
- receding
- shrinking
- compressing
- waning
- contracting
- condensing
- constricting